IVF – fertility treatment

Statistically about 90% of couples can have a child without any difficulties. There are different factors that can prevent pregnancy and influence women’s and men’s fertility. However, in the vast majority of cases, IVF carried out by experienced specialists can solve these problems.

One of the vital tasks at the initial stage of fertility treatment is determining the exact causes of infertility. Finland is one of the leaders in diagnosing infertility thanks to the advanced equipment in Finnish clinics and the experience and professionalism of Finnish fertility specialists.

The current methods used in reproductive medicine allow the couple under treatment to have the same chance for a successful pregnancy as a healthy couple – about 25-30% of attempts have positive results. Some technologies used in Finnish clinics increase the possibility to 50-70%.

Initial consultation regarding IVF

IVF procedure (in vitro fertilization) consists of ovum fertilization by sperm in vitro followed by embryo transfer into the uterine cavity. The use of IVF is justified in the following cases:

Absence or significant defects of uterine tubes

Sterility resistant to treatment by the alternative methods

Male infertility

Immunologic infertility

During the first visit to Clinic Helena for IVF conducting the following measures are taken:

gynaecologist consultation

laboratory diagnostics

treatment schedule development

writing prescriptions

formation of treatment agreement

Fertility treatment regimen

The clinic should be informed about the timing of the patient’s mentrual cycle in order to plan the treatment. The treatment begins on the second day of the cycle with the injection of gonadotropin (intramusculary).

On days 5-6 of the cycle, an ultrasound investigation with an intravaginal detector is performed; providing information about the amount of ova in the ovaries and the endometrial thickness.

On days 7-9 days of the cycle a new intravaginal ultrasound examination is performed.

The ova amount and endometrial thickness reach their peak within 2 weeks from the beginning of the cycle (counted from the first day of menstruation), and this is when the ova is collected at the clinic.

Hormonal injections are continued for all this time to a high accuracy. Hormonal agent is varied before ova collection. The schedule of preparation variation is issued to the patient at the first consultation with the medication prescriptions.

Ova collection

Paracentesis of ovary for ova collection is performed with an intravaginal ultrasound examination. The procedure is performed under under local anaesthesia and takes about 15 minutes. The man’s sperm is collected at the same time.

Ova fertilization

The fertilization of the ova with sperm is conducted on the same day as the collection.

The next day the ova fertilization is checked. The fertilized ova are then cultivated for 2-5 days. Then the fertilized ova are transferred to the uterine lining using a silicone probe.

This is a quick procedure and anaesthesia is not required.

Pregnancy test

A pregnancy test can be made in two weeks, and in 6 weeks an ultrasound examination is performed.

Monitoring during the pregnancy can be conducted in Savonlinna or Helsinki. If the parents wish, the baby can possibly be delivered in the Helsinki region.

It is possible to conduct the examination according to the list agreed upon with the doctor, The ultrasound observation made between 5–6 days and 7-9 days of the menstrual cycle and the pregnancy test can also be carried out at the patient’s home. The results are then communicated to the clinic according to the agreed treatment plan. Therefore only two visits to the clinic are needed – once for the initial consultation and then a second visit for the IVF, which requires a stay of 2-5 days in Finland.

The total price of IVF treatment depends on many factors and is determined at the initial consultation. For prices at Clinic Helena, please call us.